Revealed: How Aarif's foster brother Milo helped reunited lost dog with its owner

Ulrike Halliwell with Aarif (right) and Milo, after finding her missing dog in Ainsdale

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The man who spotted Aarif in Ainsdale has told of how the dog's foster brother played a crucial role.

Aarif has been missing since August 16, and his owners had spent days and nights searching Ainsdale beach for him. Aarif and his foster brother Milo had not seen each other in three years, but yesterday the bond between the pair proved vital when Aarif was spotted in the Sandringham Road area.

Chris Farrow, who helped set up the Find Aarif Facebook page, posted: "After a short while he saw Milo and myself at the rear of the house and a glimpse of recognition came onto his face. Milo started to whimper and Aarif slowly walked up to us and started to sniff Milo but I was unable to slip a lead on him and he walked away at which point Ulli turned up and started to call him.

"Again he seemed to recognise her and hesitantly walked towards her and stopped. I then let Milo off his lead and he immediately went to Aarif and, after a few seconds,

"Milo led Aarif casually to Ulli where we were able to put a lead on him and he was safe at last. The whole episode has captured the hearts of thousands via social media. The people of Southport have been amazing with their support and assistance.

"The council employees have been so helpful and wherever possible gone out of their way to do what they can above and beyond, and so have a very special small band of dedicated helpers who spent countless hours searching for a dog they never knew for a family they had never met who were from another town. Southport folk (and quite a few from afar) you should be very proud."

Ulrike Halliwell with Aarif (right) and Milo, after finding her missing dog in Ainsdale

Over 2,300 people joined the Find Aarif page on Facebook, which was set up after the Halliwells’ pet lurcher went missing on August 16. Yesterday morning (Wednesday) mum Ulrike received a call to say her dog had been spotted in the Sandringham Road area. She had told the Visiter.co.uk that her mother-in-law took the dog to Ainsdale beach for a walk when he went missing.

Ulrike, who lives in Skelmersdale, wanted to thank everyone who supported her. She said: “‘Strangers have provided tea, coffee, juice and crisps.

‘‘Someone even flew a drone over the beach to try and spot my dog. It’s not very pleasant being parked up on a remote beach at night but many strangers have made it easier for me.

‘‘One lady told me to knock on her door if I needed a drink or to use the toilet.

Ulrike told how the stressful the ordeal had been for her family. She said: ““One man said Aarif was just within touching distance of him, and then ran off. Obviously by the time I got out to the beach, he was long gone.”